learn and create

Our workshops are a view of each season with an observation of medicinal plants using your senses. Each workshop starts with a garden walk to explore the variety of plants growing at Phytofarm and a sensory and visual sensation in the drying room. They contain discussions to excite your mind, tastes to stimulate your palate with a variety of edible plants from the garden and the Phytofarm pantry. Homemade crackers, medicinal hummus, nut cheeses, meadow plant pestos, fermented condiments, local goat cheese, plant-based chutneys, mini muffins, inulin rich beverage and seasonal tisanes. Food provided at the workshops will accommodate any special dietary requirements – vegan, vegetarian or gluten intolerant.

The workshops will inspire you to create your own medicinal plant garden, – on a farm, in a suburban garden or a courtyard garden using containers or vertical displays. Discover how to engage with plants to keep you well as we move around the sun. These workshops are a holistic view of “prevention is better than cure” and an observation of accessible local plants, the ones that very likely grow around you, but you just have not introduced yourself.

the workshops

Plant to Perfume: An Elements of

Fragrance Masterclass (Canterbury, NZ)

8–9 March 2025

$275.00$525.00

Alembics most comprehensive Fragrance Masterclass to date is coming to the South Island! Join us at Phytofarm Herbal Learning Centre in Christchurch and learn how to create natural fragrance from base to bottle.

Taught over two days, these workshops are hands-on and immersive learning experiences engaging all your senses. Come for a single day or join us for the weekend.

Location: Phytofarm Herbal Learning Centre, 166 Okuti Valley Road, Little River, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th March 2025

Tickets: Book here
$275 single day
$525 the weekend

Workshop programme: LEARN

In autumn, the workshop will focus on the value of roots and how berries provide valuable medicine.

  • Autumn garden walk, the plants grown for the healing properties in their roots are dying back, and the garden view changes from the aerial perspective to the examination of roots and berries in the trees.
  • Drying room experience and blending a decoction from roots and berries.
  • We will have a discussion on the importance of gut flora as a key to our immune system function.
  • Make and take home products with recipes:
    Blend a tisane
    A medicinal vinegar
    An oxymel
    A nutritional syrup

Sunday 27th April: 10 am – 2 pm BOOK HERE

Workshops that are booked can be cancelled three days prior to receive a full refund. After this time no refunds will be given but an alternative date can be booked for a 50% discount.

Other times for workshops and garden tours can be negotiated. Please contact Valmai to discuss. Group Specials: Please contact us to discuss any special requests or topics of interest. If you live outside the Canterbury area workshop days can be blocked together to limit travel costs.

Decorating cocktail glass
Infusing a tisane tea